Lake, P, Boris, ME & Gollaher, T 2010, 'High density paste thickener in Siberia', in R Jewell & AB Fourie (eds), Paste 2010: Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 411-419, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1063_36_Lake
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1063_36_Lake/)
Abstract: The design of a 45 m diameter elevated high density paste thickener in Siberia represents an example of an 
application where paste and thickened tailings (P&TT) offers advantages in challenging environmental and 
site conditions. The benefits of P&TT have been realised by an increasing number of mineral plants in the 
world. Thickening tailings to paste can be an effective solution for deposition sites that are environmentally 
sensitive. Conventional slurry deposition may be very expensive for some terrains, making paste relatively 
economical. The use of this technology is not necessarily restricted from any particular geography or 
climate. Thickened tailings technology was selected in part because the unique terrain made conventional 
slurry deposition difficult and expensive. The high density thickener design was chosen because of the large 
diameter necessary to accommodate the solids feed rate while producing a non-settling underflow (paste). 
An elevated tank, as opposed to on-the-ground construction, was chosen because of considerations involving 
climate-related construction issues. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the initial mechanical and 
process design phase of the thickener, which will be installed and started up in 2010.